Adding an aquarium to your home is a creative way to breathe new life into a space and also offers a unique learning experience. With over 34,000 different species of fish inhabiting freshwater and saltwater, the combination of marine life you could add to your home is virtually limitless. And when it comes to aquariums, the first choice you have to make is freshwater or saltwater. But with such a wide array of oceanic life, how do you know which one is right for you? Well, there are a variety of factors that contribute to making the right choice for your skill level and lifestyle.
How Much Do You Want to Spend?
Cost plays a large role in deciding between a saltwater or freshwater tank. On average, a freshwater aquarium will cost you noticeably less than a saltwater aquarium based on a couple of factors:
Tank Size
Freshwater fish can live in a tank as small as one gallon, but saltwater fish are recommended to inhabit a 30-gallon tank, at least. Both salt and freshwater aquariums can be equally impressive, but if you’re looking to stay on-budget with your new aquatic addition, a freshwater tank may be your best bet.
Equipment
Both kinds of aquariums require the basics: tank, stand, and lighting. Saltwater tanks require a couple of extra items to maintain a healthy environment for the fish, like a powerhead or jet flow–to keep water moving– live rock, and saltwater mix.
Fish Type
Salt and freshwater fish have a wide variety of prices. Both can be expensive or low-cost, but on average, saltwater fish will typically cost more than their freshwater friends.
Do You Have Enough Time?
Properly maintaining any aquarium takes time, effort, and patience, but freshwater aquariums require less maintenance and care than saltwater. That’s because the environment doesn’t need to be as heavily monitored or maintained. Saltwater fish need a delicate balance in their environment, requiring more time and effort, while freshwater fish are a bit sturdier and lower maintenance. Balancing the salinity of the water, cleaning the tank, and monitoring the marine life all takes a little extra time with saltwater aquariums, but if you’re up to the challenge and want a more colorful reward, a saltwater aquarium may be for you.
Maintaining both types of aquariums will take time, but your marine life will thrive if you put forth the effort.
How Much Experience do You Have?
Fish-keeping requires effort and research on the owner’s part, but it also provides benefits that
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. The decision of saltwater versus freshwater may be daunting, but doing your research and knowing your capabilities can help make the decision a little easier. So, whether you’re an experienced fish-keeper or just looking to dabble, creating your own aquarium offers you a rewarding experience that will add a unique vibrancy to your home.
Image Link: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2014/07/11/23/00/aquarium-390745_1280.jpg
